Three goal third period lifts Hounds to win

The Soo Greyhounds are on quite a roll.

Heading into Friday night's tilt with the Oshawa Generals, the Greyhounds had won four straight games after a 1-4-1 start and were battling for top spot in the Ontario Hockey League's West Division with the Plymouth Whalers.

On Friday, the Greyhounds scored three third period goals to defeat the Generals 4-2 and record their fifth consecutive victory.

The Greyhounds got off to a slow start against the Generals and were behind early when former Hound Ryan Kitchen, who also picked up an assist in the game, scored his third goal of the season beating Soo netminder Kevin Druce, who was acquired from the Generals along with Matt Maccarone in the trade that sent Kitchen to Oshawa.

The Hounds tied the game while a man short with Andrew Desjardins in the penalty box for high sticking, when Jeff Carter took a feed from Matt Puntureri and went in alone and beat Generals goaltender Ryan Gibb with a nifty deke to tie the game at 1-1.

The lead was short lived as Aaron Lobb gave the Generals the lead again with his second goal of the season 27 seconds after Carter's marker.

After a scoreless second period, the Hounds took control of the game with three unanswered goals as Brad Staubitz, Matt Puntureri and Carter scored to send the Generals to their sixth straight loss.

Carter added an assist in the game and was named first star. Colt King also had a good outing for the Hounds picking up two assists. Puntureri also chipped in with an assist.

The Hounds played the game without the services of three veterans as defenceman Mike Looby continues to nurse a knee injury and newly acquired Chris Hawley also sat out with a groin injury. Overage winger Jeff Doyle also missed the game after receiving word of a five-game league imposed suspension after receiving a major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct back on October 10 in Sarnia. Doyle will be eligible to return to the Hounds lineup on October 29 when the Hounds host Sarnia.

Adam Berti had a strong night for Oshawa picking up two assists in the loss.

Hounds head coach Marty Abrams was pleased with the way his club battled to gain a win, especially after trailing heading into the third period.

"We kind of took over in the third," Abrams said following the win. "We wanted to make sure we were fresh for the third period."

Abrams also commented on how tough it was to lose Doyle, who usually plays the wing with Carter and King on the top line, saying that to lose a top six forward is tough.

Druce was solid in net for the Hounds although he battled the puck at times during the game. Abrams credited that to the nerves of playing your former team for the first time saying, "You're always a little bit nervous when you play your former team for the first time."

Abrams was also pleased with the play of Puntureri and Michael Krelove. Despite not getting on the scoresheet, Krelove had a number of quality chances during the game to do so.

Although the win was the Hounds fifth straight, Abrams said he wants his club to continue to work hard and get better over the remainder of the season.

"The kids have definitely worked hard," he said. "We want to continue to get better though, month-to-month."

The Hounds will now prepare to face off with the Kingston Frontenacs who will be in Sault Ste. Marie on Sunday afternoon to take on the Hounds at 2 p.m.

In other OHL action on Friday night, David Pszenyczny's goal in the second period gave Sarnia a 1-0 win over Windsor. John Ceci got the shutout for the Sting.

A two goal performance from David Bolland led London to an 8-1 victory over visiting Barrie, Brett Trudell picked up a goal and two assists as Guelph and Plymouth fought to a 3-3 tie, two goals from Tom Zanoski led Owen Sound to a 6-2 victory over Kitchener while Ryan Oulahen and Adam Henrich each had two goals as Brampton rolled over Sudbury 8-2.

Toronto St. Michael's got a goal from Thomas Waugh and a perfect performance from goaltender Justin Peters to blank Mississauga 1-0 and Eric Himelfarb's two goals led Kingston to a 6-5 win over Erie.